I sit here at my dining room table looking at flowers that I brought home before Shabbos. They looked much better two days ago. The light purple roses seemed strong and flawless Friday morning; now I give them about another day or two. Wouldn't it be amazing if an inventor could find some sort of preservative that allows flowers to last for years? What if these same purple flowers could adorn our Shabbos table in their full vitality for over a decade? While that ability may emerge one day - it wouldn't be all that special.
Looking at the first few Torah portions there is a clear recurring theme. Things don't seem to last forever. The dream of the Garden of Eden was short lived, the world that stood before the flood was vanquished to the elements, and Abraham's youth in Ur Kasdim is terminated upon G-d's mandate of lech lecha. Spend some time with the Book of Genesis and you will find many more examples.
On the surface, a lot of G-d's choice in bringing one stage to an end is an indication that there is a punishment being given out. However, it could be that there is something positive going on as well. If things are to last forever, life, the Garden of Eden, or flowers, as human beings we will fall prey to disinterest. We will lose our appreciation for that unique gift that has come into our lives. Things must go away for us to love its return.
The flower has to die, civilizations need restructuring, and the Garden must be temporarily closed